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The Secret Life of Rubbish

Emma Hindley

Chris Durlacher

The Secret Life of Rubbish: Episode 2

Documentaries

Factual: History

Episode 2

BBC Four - The Secret Life of Rubbish, Episode 2

How privatisation of public services and environmentalism became big ideas in the 1970s.

Series about refuse in Britain looks at the 1970s and 80s, when two big ideas emerged in the waste management industry - privatisation of public services and environmentalism.

With tales from old binmen and film archive that has never been broadcast before, this two-part series offers an original view of the history of modern Britain - from the back end where the rubbish comes out.

The second programme deals with the 1970s and 1980s, when two big ideas emerged in the waste management industry. 

The first was privatisation of public services. We meet Ian Ross, who made millions by taking over the refuse collection contract from the council that had once employed him as a binman. 'It was scary', Ian Ross admits, 'but you have one chance don't you, and you've got to take it.'

The other idea that emerged was environmentalism. Ron England goes back to the supermarket car park in Barnsley, South Yorkshire where he set up the world's first bottle bank. 'Everyone said I was a crank', recalls Ron. 

But the waste stream continued to expand. This was great news for the Earls of Aylesford. The present Earl shows how his palace was saved with money earned from the enormous landfill in the grounds. 

This is the story of a society hooked on wastefulness - and of the people who clear up the mess.

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A view of the history of modern Britain - from the back end where the rubbish comes out.

With tales from old binmen and previously unseen film archive, this two-part series offers an original view of the history of modern Britain - from the back end where the rubbish comes out.

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